Month: August 2015

“I love to come in and play with a wig or glasses or clothes. I love using props. I’m from the Peter Sellers school of trying to prepare for the character.” – Dan Aykroyd

Ha – you’re probably thinking “Props for Menopause” means this essay is all about a big thumbs-up for this crazy change in women. Ummm – no. Far from it. It’s about props that one needs to survive this change of life.

“I do wonder why people hate their grey hair so much! I think grey hair is a gift from the moon! When the moon laughs, her eyes produce tears of joy that fall to the earth and onto the tops of people’s heads!” C. JoyBell C.

Around the time my father was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, I started to make a more conscious effort to reduce the number of chemicals used in our home, from processed foods to cleaning products to toiletries. In fact, I started making my own deodorant, toothpaste and many cleaning supplies, and began learning about the connections of foods, herbs and essential oils.

One thing I hadn’t done at that point was to give up my hair color! The gray was really coming in, and I found myself coloring more frequently. I remember that the last few times I colored my hair, I began to itch along the base of my neck. At that point, I decided it was time to stop coloring. To aid in the transition, I had highlights and low lights added, which helped eliminate the “line of demarcation,” something that many people, especially women, fear when they stop coloring their hair.

It was around that time I noticed that others were doing the same – ditching the dye. I approached the editor of Michigan Prime Magazine, and she agreed to let me write an article highlighting (pun intended!) metro Detroiters who were letting their hair go au naturel. The response I received from people willing to share their story was overwhelming. I couldn’t even interview all of them! Men and women, celebrities and regular folk are currently embracing this trend, and I don’t think it is going to end any time soon.

Here is a link to the article, “Ditching the Dye.” It is my hope that if you are considering going gray, the interview subjects and stylists I spoke with will be of encouragement to you.